Asthmatics who are significantly overweight tend to have more severe symptoms, more flare ups, and are more likely to have poorly-controlled asthma when compared to other asthmatics.

Researchers believe this occurs because excess adipose tissue (fat) in the bosy can cause higher-than-normal levels of leptin and lower levels of adiponectin in the blood.

The researchers of this study are testing a medication called pioglitazone in overweight asthmatics because they believe it can help regulate leptin and adiponectin and that this may improve symptoms of asthma.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to pioglitazone or placebo (an inactive pill). They will be given study medication to take every day for 12 weeks (3 months).

Participants will complete a number of asthma-related questionnaires and a variety of pulmonary function tests. Participants will undergo physical exams, an electrocardiogram, and blood sampling to measure leptin, adiponectin, markers of inflammation, blood cell counts, glucose levels, BNP hormone levels, and liver function.

To monitor participants throughout the study, follow-up visits will be done at 2, 6, and 12 weeks after starting study drug. At these visits many of the pulmonary function tests and questionnaires will be repeated.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Asthma diagnosed by a physician at least 1 year prior to study enrollment

Poorly-controlled asthma at study enrollment

Non smokers (stopped smoking at least 1 year ago) and limited lifetime history of smoking

Body mass index 30-60

Responds to methacholine challenge test with PC20 of <16 mg/ml

On a stable dose of inhaled corticosteroid for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry

Women of childbearing potential using oral contraceptives who are not willing to use a second method of contraception during the study

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00787644